Cost of Living Comparison Between Spokane, WA and Grand Forks, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Spokane, WA and Grand Forks, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,694 in Spokane, WA versus $2,338 in Grand Forks, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,037 in Spokane, WA versus $3,435 in Grand Forks, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,380 in Spokane, WA versus $4,533 in Grand Forks, ND.

Living in Spokane, WA is roughly 15% more expensive than Grand Forks, ND, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Spokane, WA 100% above, Grand Forks, ND 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.05 $24.05

$21.91 $21.91

9.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 $73.8

$85.3 $85.3

-13.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.98 $12.98

$9.28 $9.28

39.87%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$4.97 $4.97

-5.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.70 $2.70

-11.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.02 $3.02

-24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.64 $6.64

$5.15 $5.15

28.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$7.11 $7.11

-16.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.13 $1.13

-13.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.48 $3.48

-15.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.27 $4.27

16.63%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$3.64 $3.64

25.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.70 $16.70

$23.99 $23.99

-30.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.46 $15.46

$11.69 $11.69

32.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.06 $16.06

$15.51 $15.51

3.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.79 $4.79

-2.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.09 $2.09

-12.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.30 $4.30

14.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.24 $3.24

71.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.16 $2.16

58.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.80 $2.80

-6.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.13 $2.13

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.05 $2.05

15.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.52 $11.52

$10.08 $10.08

14.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 $14.26

$34.86 $34.86

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.84 $1.84

2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.03 $6.03

-13.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.46 $1.46

33.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$41.67 $41.67

43.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.08 $6.08

-15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.59 $1.59

11.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.38 $39.38

$29.31 $29.31

34.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.77 $0.77

46.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.9K $33.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

15.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$162 $162

$281 $281

-42.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$103 $103

-36.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$74.9 $74.9

-4.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.73 $44.73

$61.2 $61.2

-26.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.02 $15.02

Cinema Ticket

$14.33 $14.33

$14.93 $14.93

-4.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,323 $1,323

7.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K $16.1K

$23.3K $23.3K

-31.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$50.9 $50.9

4.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

$40.17 $40.17

24.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$88.2 $88.2

29.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$111 $111

30.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,002 $1,002

57.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 $1,308

$799 $799

63.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,861 $2,861

$1,668 $1,668

71.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$1,299 $1,299

71.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,389 $3,389

$1,535 $1,535

120.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,483 $1,483

57.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,215 $4,215

$4,792 $4,792

-12.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.45

2.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Spokane, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,581 in Spokane, WA and $1,002 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Spokane, WA vs $85.0 in Grand Forks, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $461 per month, with Spokane, WA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Spokane, WA vs Grand Forks, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Forks, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Spokane, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grand Forks, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Grand Forks, ND earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,581 in Spokane, WA versus $1,002 in Grand Forks, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Grand Forks, ND runs roughly 43% less than in Spokane, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,428 in Spokane, WA versus $1,323 in Grand Forks, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,338 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,694 in Spokane, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Forks, ND but tight or insufficient in Spokane, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Forks, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Spokane, WA and Grand Forks, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Grand Forks, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Spokane, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.